Chelsea’s five-match winning streak came to a dramatic end as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Nottingham Forest side at Stamford Bridge. Despite dominating for large portions of the game, Chelsea couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Forest defense in what was an action-packed, low-scoring thriller.
The match began with both teams pressing hard, but the first half ended goalless, despite Chelsea’s nine attempts on goal. Forest, determined to frustrate the hosts, managed to hold firm, setting up an intense second half.
Just four minutes into the second half, Forest struck first. Chris Wood found the back of the net, taking advantage of a James Ward-Prowse free kick, which was headed across the box by Nikola Milenkovic, leaving Wood to tap it in and give Forest a shock lead.
Chelsea, stung by the setback, responded quickly. Only eight minutes later, Noni Madueke leveled the game with a well-taken strike, cutting inside from the right and unleashing a left-footed shot that crept past goalkeeper Matz Sels.
The game took another twist in the 77th minute when Forest were reduced to 10 men. James Ward-Prowse, who had earlier assisted Forest’s goal, was shown a second yellow card for a deliberate handball that stopped Nicolas Jackson from going clear on goal. His dismissal left Forest to defend valiantly for the remaining minutes.
As both teams searched for a winner, 13 minutes of stoppage time were added, leading to a frantic finale. Goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Matz Sels pulled off remarkable saves to ensure the points were shared after a grueling 105 minutes of play.
Chelsea remain fourth in the Premier League standings, while Forest temporarily move up to ninth, edging above Brighton & Hove Albion.
Key Moments:
49th Minute: Chris Wood opens the scoring for Forest with a close-range finish following a set-piece delivery from James Ward-Prowse.
57th Minute: Noni Madueke levels the score for Chelsea with a low drive after being set up by Cole Palmer.
77th Minute: Ward-Prowse receives a second yellow card for a deliberate handball, reducing Forest to 10 men.
Match Statistics:
Possession: Chelsea 67% – 33% Forest
Shots: Chelsea 22 – 16 Forest
Shots on Target: Chelsea 8 – 9 Forest
Corners: Chelsea 11 – 3 Forest
What’s Next? Chelsea will return to action after the international break with a high-profile clash against Liverpool at Anfield on October 20. Forest, on the other hand, will face Crystal Palace at the City Ground on October 21.
